Members of the national parliament (Photo by - / AFP)

South Sudan parliament on Monday passed a disputed National Elections Act 2012, Amendment Bill 2023 that gives an elected president the power to appoint 5 percent of the legislators.

This was after some lawmakers walked out of the August House to protest certain provisions, which they said would empower the head of state to still appoint MPs.

According to the Bill, 50% of members of the National Assembly shall be elected to represent the geographical constituencies.

It then indicates that 35% representation of women members will be elected based on proportional representation at the national level from closed women lists.

It further said 15% of the members shall be elected based on proportional representation at the national level from closed party lists.

The August House agreed that a party shall internally include the youth and people with special needs from the 15% party lists.

However, the members deferred on the powers of a president-elect to nominate a certain number from the party into the assembly after the elections – a move that prompted some members to walk out of the house.

Despite the differences, the August House voted for the increment of members of the national parliament from 250-332 and agreed 5% of them will be appointed by the president.

“The national elections Act 2012, Amendment Bill 2023 is hereby passed with all the observations, recommendations at its fourth and final reading,” Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba announced the legislature’s decision.

The national parliament has been mired with boycotts over a number of legislative issues including amended bills and the national budget in the past months.